Free Articles OnlineFree Articles & Content for Webmasters

Choosing the right aquarium lighting can be a challenge because of the range of choices available. A good way to limit your choices is to learn about some of the reasons for installing aquarium lighting. Once you learn about them, you will have a better idea of which lights to get.

You can use lighting for aesthetics, increased visibility, and to ensure the survival of your fish and corals. Regarding aesthetics, you can use lights to highlight certain areas or fish inside your tank. So if you have fish that you want to show off, lights can make it easier for you to do that. Also, a well-lighted tank would have more appeal than unlighted ones.

In most cases, aquarium lighting is installed because of need. In tanks that also contain coral and other invertebrates, lighting becomes essential to ensure the healthy living conditions of these organisms. This is because you need the right amount of light energy to initiate photosynthesis to keep corals alive. Usually, fish-only tanks do not need much lighting, while reef tanks need specific types of lighting. So if you have reefs and or coral or plan to have them in your tank, you should put more attention to the type of lighting to install.

The more important issue is the type of fish and creatures that you have on your tank. This is true if you have corals, reefs, and other invertebrates. Since these creatures need light of specific intensity and wavelength, having the right amount of light ensure that these will survive in your tank. You can also use aquarium lighting to reflect the natural environment of some types of fish. For example, you can use bright lights to simulate the heat of the sun for tropical fish. Though not really essential, this kind of lighting can help new tropical fish adapt to their new environment. Also part of the consideration is the number of fish you have and the size of your tank.

Other considerations would be the size of the tank, the number and type of fish you have in the tank. For example, you may want to put in lights that mimic sunlight for tropical fish. Now that you have an idea of some of the reasons for installing aquarium lights, here are the types of aquarium lights available for you. These differ in the lights that they provide, the purpose that they serve, and the advances in lighting technology.

Incandescent lights are the traditional aquarium lights. They are not expensive, but if you add their operation and care to the total cost, they can cost more in the long run. They burn hot and break down easily. Also, these lights eat up a lot of electricity.

Speaking about better light and energy efficiency, fluorescent lights fit the bill. These lights last longer, consume less electricity, and give out brighter lights. Aside from that, fluorescent lights also come in different types so you have more choices for your aquarium lights.

New technology can offer better lighting and more durability together with energy efficiency. Power compacts are a good example of this. These lights are a level-up of florescent lamps. These also present the same advantages of fluorescent lamps, but gives out light of higher intensity. These lights are also energy-efficient, durable, and less costly to maintain. They usually come in U-shaped tubes, while you can also find models that have coils on them. There are different types to choose from, so you’re not limited in your selection.

Power compacts are considered an upgrade of fluorescent lights. These lights are usually U-shaped; they provide higher intensity lighting than fluorescent lights. These lights also come in different wavelengths and intensities so you can find the power compact lights with the right specifications that you need. Same as fluorescent lights, compact lights also last for a long time and consume less electricity.

Guss Fitzgerald is a hobbyist who has owned aquarium fish for many years. He has gained much of his knowledge of the various types of aquarium lighting from reading books and his own personal experience. To find out more about keeping a fish tank consider visiting MarineDepot.com.